The live ink desk. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on Thursday said it has successfully conducted six consecutive developmental trials of High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘Abhyas’ with improved booster configuration. The trials took place at Chandipur test range in Odisha.
With this, Abhyas has successfully completed 10 developmental trials, demonstrating the reliability of the system, DRDO said.
The trials were conducted with improved radar cross section, visual and infrared augmentation systems. During the trials, various mission objectives covering safe release of booster, launcher clearance and endurance performance were successfully validated.
Two consecutive launches were carried out at an interval of 30 minutes. Abhyas has been designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru and developed through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Larsen & Toubro.
This indigenous system is designed for autonomous flight with the help of laptop-based ground control system for auto pilot, aircraft integration, pre-flight check and autonomous flight.
It also has a facility to record data during the flight, so that it can be analyzed after the flight. The booster has been designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory and the navigation system by Research Center Imarat.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, armed forces and industry for the developmental tests of ‘ABHYAS’. He said that the successful tests are a remarkable proof of synergy between scientists and industry.
Secretary, Department of Defense Research and Development and Chairman, DRDO, Dr. Sameer V Kamat congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test and said that this system is cost effective and has immense export potential.
